The Ultimate Tips for Traveling with a Pet in the Car Quiz

Traveling the highways and byways of your country with your favorite pet at your side can be an exciting and fun adventure. However, your adventure can become a nightmare if you fail to prepare properly for traveling with a pet in a car. Take our quiz and learn how to enjoy a road trip with your favorite pet.

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Question 1 of 20

What is a basic consideration that you need to take care of when you are planning to travel with a pet?

You should visit a vet to procure pet motion sickness medication and pet tranquilizers.

You should take an overnight test trip a few weeks before vacation to ensure that that your pet travels well.

You should phone ahead to ensure that designations and stops along the way allow or accommodate pets.

Since no standard exists on pet acceptance at hotels or motels across the country or around the world, it is wise to phone ahead to ensure pets are allowed. Take time to check with each place you plan to stay or visit along the way.

Question 2 of 20

What percentage of Americans typically take pets along when they travel?

44 percent

53 percent

According to the American Animal Hospital Association, 53 percent of Americans head out on the road every with their pets joining them for the trip. This statistic represents a huge number of cars containing a dog or cat.

67 percent

Question 3 of 20

How many Americans owned dogs according to statistics compiled at the end of 2009?

77.5 million

According to Humane Society of the United States, 77.5 million Americans were dog owners at the end of 2009. There were also approximately 93.6 million cats owned in the United States.

58.9 million

46.3 million

Question 4 of 20

Most of us buckle up our families when we travel for a good reason. How many auto accidents occurred in 2005 in the U.S.?

3.8 million

6.5 million

There were 6.5 million auto accidents in the U.S. in 2005, in which almost 3 million were injured and more than 40,000 were killed. The volume of accidents presents a good argument for buckling up everyone -- including your pet.

7.9 million

Question 5 of 20

What is a most common occurrence when traveling with your pet in a car?

profuse drooling

carsickness

The most common occurrence when traveling with animals is carsickness, although it is common for dogs and cats to suffer from diarrhea as well. Even the most well traveled dog or cat can suddenly become carsick without any warning.

chronic diarrhea

Question 6 of 20

What is a great way to reduce chances of a dog that is unfamiliar with car travel becoming carsick?

Tranquilize your dog for the trip and you can avoid carsickness.

Allow your dog a window seat and crack the window a bit to allow fresh air.

Take some short trips first before setting out on a long journey and allow your dog to sit by a window that is opened a small amount to supply fresh air. Use drugs as a last resort for pets. Even though they have been proven effective, it is best to resort to drugs only for a pet with a chronic carsickness problem.

What is a basic rule of thumb when traveling with a pet that no owner should ignore?

Always scoop the poop, never leave pet excrement for someone else to discover by accident.

Remember not you or anyone else wants to make an accidental discovery of animal feces, so make sure you always carry bags and scoop your pet's poop. Also, make sure you take along your pet’s immunization records and certificates.

Tranquilize your pet before starting out on your journey.

Both of the above are basic rules of thumb for dealing with travelling pets.

Question 8 of 20

Prior to New York City passing a bylaw in 1978 forcing owners to pick up after their dogs, how many pounds of dog poop were deposited along their sidewalks annually?

29 million pounds

33 million pounds

40 million pounds

Prior to the mandatory scoop-the-poop bylaws in New York City, about 40 million pounds (18 million kilos) of dog doo was left deposited on the sidewalks.

Question 9 of 20

When you travel by car with your pet, always make sure that:

you exercise your pet before you leave them in the car while you eat or take in an attraction

you always use a leash when you stop and take your pet out of the vehicle for exercise or bathroom needs

You always need to put a leash on your dog before you take it out of your car. Most animals, especially dogs, will try to take off at full speed as soon as their paws hit the ground.

If you cannot take your pet with you during a short stop, make sure that someone stays in the car with them.

Question 10 of 20

What is a wise thing to do with your pet regardless of whether you plan to take them in your car or not?

Always use the same vet to treat your pet and do not hop from clinic to clinic.

Make sure that your pet has a current ID on or better still have them implanted with a microchip.

Make sure to have your pet implanted with a microchip and that it has a current ID tag attached to the collar. Remember to keep your pet’s microchip record up to date when you relocate or change details such as telephone numbers.

Research their breed as much as you can so you are fully aware of their uniqueness and traits.

Question 11 of 20

About how many dogs are estimated to die each year because they were riding in the bed of a pickup truck?

150 thousand

100 thousand

70 thousand

According to the Humane Society of Utah, as many as 100,000 dogs die each year because they were riding in the uncovered bed of a pickup truck. Deaths usually occur when dogs fly out during an accident, fall out accidently or slide out of an open tailgate.

Question 12 of 20

Where should dogs be sitting or lying when they are traveling in your car?

It is best to restrain a dog on the floor in the front set where they have the most room.

If you are alone, let your dog ride shotgun, right up in front with you.

Pets should be riding in the back seat and properly restrained in an appropriate harness.

Dogs should always be riding in the back seat and properly restrained in an appropriate harness. Never have a dog ride in the front seat. In an accident airbags deploy at 200 mph (321 kph) and are just as dangerous to pets as they are to children.

Question 13 of 20

What is a law that you may have problems with in some states if you travel with a dog breed or mix that has a history of being bred for fighting and aggression?

aggressive-canine law (ACL)

breed-specific laws (BSL)

Breed-specific pet laws, often known as breed-specific legislation (BSL), were enacted to protect people against traditionally aggressive canine breeds. Most often included are Rottweilers, Doberman pinchers, pit bulls and any mixed breed derived from one of these dogs.

carnivore canine law (CCL)

Question 14 of 20

How many states require that your dog must be harnessed to a seat restraint when traveling in any car or truck?

There are about 25 states requiring the harnessing of pets while travelling in a vehicle.

According to Pettravel.com, 25 states in the U.S. now have laws in place that require you to put your pet in a restraint when it is traveling with you in a car. Safety of car occupants and accident prevention are the prime motivators for pet restraint laws.

Presently there are no states requiring pet harness by law in cars or trucks.

There are 10 states with a law requiring pets to be harnessed in a vehicle.

Question 15 of 20

How long do rabies shots adequately protect your pet before they must have a booster shot?

three to five years

three years

one to four years

Rabies shots remain current from one to four years, depending on the type of vaccine your vet uses. Your veterinary professional will provide you with a certificate that certifies the vaccination date, type of vaccine used and a date when a booster will be required, you should be aware that international travel destinations may not accept vaccination periods greater than one year.

Question 16 of 20

What mode of car travel do most cats prefer and is likely the best method regardless?

Cats prefer to travel in their case placed in the trunk of the car where it is dark.

Cats prefer to travel with a cotton blanket while properly restrained in a rear facing infant safety seat.

Cats travel best in a small crate or approved travel case placed in the back seat.

Cats typically to travel best in a small crate or approved travel case that is placed in the back seat. Make sure to let your cat become familiar with the crate by leaving it around for a few days and, if they have never traveled in one before, let them try it for a short trip.

Question 17 of 20

What is the best way to manage feeding of your pet during the road trip?

Make food and water available in the crate as you travel for a happy pet.

Never feed your pet any less than four hours before you start a trip, give water only during the trip.

You should never feed your pet any less than four hours before you start a trip, give water only less than four hours before starting out and during the trip. If you must feed a pet during a trip, do so only at rest stops and allow digestion time before starting out again.

Do not allow you pet anything but its toys while driving, feed and water only during stops.

Question 18 of 20

What is a dangerous practice when traveling with a dog that many people are unaware of?

Allowing your dog to sleep for longer than an hour at a time while you are driving is a dangerous practice.

Nonstop driving for more than three hours in a stretch with an animal travelling in the car is dangerous.

Allowing your dog to hang its head out your car window while driving is a dangerous practice.

It might seem fun to let your dog hang its head out the window, but according to the ASPCA, this practice is dangerous. Your dog could be hit by flying objects, and the wind and cold air can cause inner-ear damage and lung infections.

Question 19 of 20

On a warm day, what temperature can your cars interior soar to in only a few minutes even with an open window?

140 degrees Fahrenheit

130 degrees Fahrenheit

120 degrees Fahrenheit

According to the Humane Society, you should always park your car in the shade and never leave a pet or child alone in a parked vehicle. On a warm day, the temperature in your car can rise to 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius) in minutes, even with the window open.

Question 20 of 20

What is one final thing that you should always do when you travel with a pet in the car?

Take frequent pit stops and breaks where you get everyone including pets out for some exercise.

Make up a pet clean up kit with a bucket, paper towels, plastic bags a multipurpose cleaner and nail clippers.

Both of the above are wise pet travel tips.

You should take frequent pit stops and breaks, when you get everyone including pets out of the car for some fun and exercise. Also, take along a pet clean up kit with a bucket, paper towels, plastic bags, a multipurpose cleaner and pet nail clippers.